Intermittent driving device for bottle-feeding mechanism



J. C. MILLER.

INTERMITTEINT" nmvme DEVIC'E FOR-BOTTLE FEEDING MECHANISM. APPLICATION FILED JUNE13, 1917- 1,37 3,143. Patented Mar. 29, 1921.

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APPLICATION FILED JUNE I3. 1917.

Patented Mar- 29, .1921.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

NORRIS PETERS. INC LITHD. WASHINGTON D C.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

JOHN G. MILLER, OF GOVINGTON, KENTUCKY, ASSIGNOR, BY MES NE ASSIGNMENTS, TO THE H. H. MILLER INDUSTRIES COMPANY, OF CANTON, OHIO, A CORPORATION OF OHIO.

INTERMI'I'TENT DRIVING DEVICE FOR BOTTLE-FEEDING MECHANISM.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Mar. 29, 1921.

Original application filed May 21, 1906, Serial No. 317,918. Divided and this application filed .Tune 13,

To all whom it may concern.

Be it known that I, JOHN C. MILLER, a citizen of the United States, residing at Covington, in the county of Kenton and State of Kentucky, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in and Relating to Intermittent Driving Devices for Bottle-Feeding Mechanism, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to a driving device for bottle feeding mechanism, particularly mechanism for feeding and moving bottles to predetermined positions in apparatus wherein the bottles are washed and sterllized.

The object of the invention is to provide an improved driving device, whereby the bottles are moved through the apparatus and positioned for treatment.

Other objects of the invention Wlll be apparent to those skilled in the art to wh1ch my invention relates from the following description taken in connection with the accompanying drawings.

This application is a division of my application Ser. No. 317,918, Patent No. 1,234,373.

For the purpose of illustration, I have, in the accompanying drawings, shown and herein described one form of apparatus embodying my invention.

Figure 1 is a fragmentary transverse sectional view of a bottle washing apparatus having a driving device for the bottle feeding mechanism embodying my invention.

Fig. 2 is a fragmentary horizontal sectional view illustrating details of construc tion..

Figs. 3 and 4 are detail views.

In the drawings, 2 indicates the frame of the apparatus herein shown as adapted for washing and sterilizing empty bottles. 1 indicates a tank for holding water or other cleaning solution. 3 indicates a power driving shaft extending longitudinally of the fran'ie 2 and mounted in suitable bearings at the side thereof. 5 indicates a gear fixed to the shaft 3 and meshing with a gear (not shown) fixed to the shaft of a main gear 97, which, through a train of gears 56, 57, rotates the spindles of a set or sets of scrubbing brushes (not shown).

6 indicates a worm fixed to the shaft 3 and meshing with a worm wheel 7 on a trans- Serial No. 174,613.

verse shaft 8, which carries suitable cams, whereby movement is imparted to the other elements of the machine.

The bottles to be washed and sterilized are, in the heroin illustrated form of construction, placed in an inverted position in suitable cases, racks or trays (hereinafter for convenience termed racks) for intermittent movement through the apparatus. 9 indicates guideways or tracks mounted on the frame 2 above the washing, rinsing and sterilizing mechanisms. The guidmvays extend from end to end of the machine and serve to properly guide, support and direct the bottle-carrying racks thercthrough.

11 indicates a pair of endless chains which are arranged at opposite sides of the frame 2 and form part of the conveying system. The chains 11 preferably extend in a horizontal plane slightly above the guideways 9. The chains 11 are provided with laterally projecting studs 10, which are uniformly spaced thereon. Each chain 11 is supported by and runs around sprocket wheels 49, only two of which are shown, arranged near the opposite ends of the machine. The inner or adjacent runs of the chains 11 are disposed close and parallel to the guideways 9 so that the studs will project over the guideways and engage the rear ends of the bottle racks.

Referring to the devices for imparting intermittent movement to the driving chains 11, 33 is a grooved cam fixed to the shaft 8 and arranged to act upon a stud 34 on a swinging yoke 35, which, as shown in Figs. 1, 2 and 3, is pivoted at its lower end preferably to one of the cross bars of the frame 2. 36 is a bar mounted on the yoke 35 so as to be free to slide vertically in the forks thereof. The bar 36 is pivotally connected at its upper end to a transverse slide bar 37, which is suitably mounted in and guided by hearings on the oppositeside frames of the machine. 38 indicates a link which connects the slide bar to the outer or free end of an arm 39, which in turn is swingably connected at its inner end upon a vertical shaft 40. 41 indicates a pawl carried by the arm '39 for engaging with the teeth of a ratchet wheel 42 secured to said shaft 40.

The shaft 40 is provided wth a spur wheel 43, which meshes with a spur pinion 44 on a vertical shaft 45, and said spur wheel 43 also drives, through the medium of an interposed spur wheel46, a spur pinion 47 on a vertical shaft 48.

The shafts 45 and 48 are adapted to suitable hearings in the opposite side frames of the machine, and each of said shafts is provided, at its upper end, with a chain wheel 49, one of these wheels engaging the chain 11 at one side. of the machine, and the other engaging the chain 11 at the opposite side of the machine.

128 indicates a steam pipe leading to the sterilizing mechanism, preferably comprising pipes 23 carrying jet nozzles 24, and provided with a self-closing valve 129. To economize on the steam used for this purpose. I prefer to supply steam thereto intermittently in correlation to the feed of the bottle racks. For this purpose, the transverse slide bar 37 is provided, at one end, with a hook52 which, as the slide is approaching the limit of its movement in the direction fications of the-machine can be made without interfering with the general structure and purpose of the same; hence I wish to be understoodthat my disclosures and the description herein are purely illustrative and are not intended to be in any sense limiting, as Widely diflering embodiments and applications of the invention will suggest themselves to those skilled in the art without departing from the spirit and scope thereof.

What I claim is:

1. In apparatus of the class described. the combination with a support having guides and a device to be operated, of a pawl and ratchet mechanism, a slide slidably mounted to move endwise in the guides on said support and operatively connected to said pawl, a yoke comprising two relatively movable elements slidable one relative to the other, one of said elements being pivotally connected to said support and the other of said elements being pivotally connected to said slide for operating the latter. and means engaging said first mentioned element for swinging said yoke about the pivotal connection of said first mentioned element on said support.

2. In apparatus of the class described. the combination with a support having guides and a device to be operated, of a pawl and ratchet mechanism, a slide slidably mounted to move endwise in the guides on said support and operatively connected to said pawl, a yoke comprising two relatively movable elements slidable one relative to the other, one of said elements being pivotally connected to said support, and the other of said elements being pivotally connected to said slide for operating the latter. and a cam engaging with said first mentioned element for oscillating said yoke about the pivotal connection of said first mentioned element on said support.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto signed my name.

JOHN C. MILLER. 

